Page 40 of A Lady's Heart Deceived
She had sat up late in the night thinking what she would say to Robert this morning. It was ironic that while her father’s sermon had influenced him, helping Robert to make the decision to return to Coventry and his wife, it was also Hugh’s teachings that had guided Maggie as to how she would respond to her former fiancé’s betrayal.
What am I going to do?
Last night, she had toyed with the idea of getting dressed and heading to the nearby church to pray. To seek spiritual guidance. In the end, she hadn’t needed it. The thought of Robert’s young family, his wife, and children, was enough.
The decision to grasp tightly to some notion of revenge or simply walk away was a surprisingly easy one for her to make. Maggie got to her feet. She rested a hand on Piers’s shoulder as he attempted to rise.
This was her moment.
“I wasted over two years of my life weeping for you. Likely thrown away countless opportunities to be happy. Who knows? The love of my life may have passed me by while I was busy grieving. And all because you are a selfish coward. I should report you to the authorities, but where would that leave your wife and family?”
Much as she wished it were otherwise, two wrongs did not make a right. She would not be the cause of Robert being taken from his family. For his crimes, there was every chance that he would be flogged and then transported to the far-flung colony of New South Wales, never to return to England.
“My father might not agree with my sentiments, but I can never forgive you for what you did. For forcing me to live your lie. And you are despicable for trying to blacken the name of my family. We would never have sought to harm you. All you had to do was be honest with me. Be a man.”
She pushed back her chair and stepped away. After tucking it back under the table, Maggie leaned on its upright and glared down at Robert. “I am done. You don’t deserve another minute of my time. Oh, and this is yours.”
She pulled the betrothal ring from out of her skirt pocket and tossed it onto the table. Robert quickly scooped it up.
Maggie turned and headed for the door. Piers got to his feet and followed, hot on her heels. He finally caught up with her as she set foot onto the pavement, wrapping an arm protectively around her waist.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
“I’m fine. You can let go; I promise I am not going to faint.”
She was so light, she positively bounced on her feet. Piers released her from his hold.
“Can we go somewhere? I mean, anywhere but here. To be honest, I’m annoyed at having to leave that delicious-looking cake behind at the hotel. I have no doubthewill be stuffing his face with it. I hope he chokes,” she said.
She was in urgent need of a strong pot of tea and something sticky and sweet. Or, better still, a hot pie.
“Do you happen to know of any places around here where they make good meat pies?” she asked.
Piers nodded. “Actually, I do. And the perfect bakery is close by. Are you sure that is what you want to do?”
“Absolutely. And the sooner, the better.”
It seemed odd, but instead of being sad, Maggie wanted to celebrate. Seeing Robert alive had finally set her free. He had moved on with his life, putting her in the past. Today, she was going to do the same.
“It’s a Radley family tradition to stop in the town of Falkirk, Scotland, when we are on our way to Strathmore Castle and feast on the local pastries. And while I don’t expect the offerings in Coventry will come to up to scratch against those of the Falkirk pie shop, I am still willing to give them a try.”
She grinned as a chuckling Piers offered her his arm. “I hear a challenge in those words, Miss Radley. As a nobleman born in this part of England, I feel it is my duty to defend the honor of the region. There are four excellent bakers in the city, and if you feel up to it, then we shall visit them all.”
Placing her arm in his, Maggie laughed. “Four. Oh, dear.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Do you yield?”
Piers closed the door behind him, following Maggie into the foyer of his brother’s house. He held up his hands in surrender. “Yes. I yield. I can’t believe you ate four pies, and then managed to polish off a slice of lemon cake.”
He had never met a woman who could eat that much food. His own efforts had included two full pies and a small bite of one other. The cake was well beyond him.
If the price of him losing the beef pie battle was the happy grin on Maggie’s face, it was well worth it. It was wonderful to see her relaxed and enjoying the simple pleasures of life. Perhaps she really had puthimin the past.
“I am just going upstairs to freshen up,” said Maggie.
Piers waited until she had gone, then went in search of Elizabeth. Jonathan would still be at the offices of the canal company until later in the day.
